Botswana, De Beers ink new sales pact to continue diamond partnership

Botswana and mining company De Beers have announced, after years of negotiations, a new diamond sales deal that gives the South African country a bigger share of rough stones from their joint venture. Debswana, a joint venture between De Beers (a subsidiary of Anglo American, a UK-listed multinational mining company) and Botswana’s government, sells 75% […]

Gambia: Four soldiers arrested over botched military coup

Gambian authorities have arrested four soldiers indicted for a failed military coup aiming to topple incumbent President Adama Barrow and his administration. “Based on intelligence that some soldiers in the Gambian army were plotting to overthrow the democratically elected government of President Adama Barrow, the high command (of the Gambian armed forces) quickly mounted a […]

Muzzling critics, Tunisia on footsteps of its Algerian mentor

Quelling peaceful dissent and arresting independent journalists is now a common practice in Tunisia as it backpedals on democracy under the leadership of authoritarian president Kais Saied, following the example of his protectors in military-ruled Algeria. After amassing all powers in a firm grip, President Saied launched an unrelenting campaign against peaceful opposition figures, throwing […]